Plan and Role Description

1: Portfolio Proposal 

My aim for this assignment is to build a portfolio to showcase my skills and abilities as a mixing and studio engineer. This will be achieved by showing projects that I have created,  

and explaining how they show my skills for my chosen role.  With this portfolio, I also hope to improve my written skills for planning as well as time management. 

My first project will be a song that I have recorded and mixed, showcasing my work as a mixing engineer. This includes my use of Pro tools.  

The second will be sound for a scene from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey, which shows my skill and creativity as a mixing engineer, making sound match the movement within a clip using Ableton. 

The third artefact will be a personal studio project covering Geese’s ‘Au Pays du Cocaine’, recorded and Mixed in Pro Tools. This further shows my creativity and skill as a studio engineer such as my ability to work behind a desk and record high quality products.  

My skills and abilities as a mixing/studio engineer include familiarity with DAWS, understanding of dynamic effects and time domain effects, and levelling/balancing. However, my skills as a mixing/studio engineer have gaps within them and my knowledge. These gaps can include; fluency in using the desk, microphone techniques, and communication with clients. Despite this, I hope to improve my skills throughout my Graded Unit.

2: Role Description 

 A studio engineer handles the technical aspects of recording music. This includes working with musicians, setting up the equipment necessary for the session, processing audio, and using their experience to choose how they can get the highest quality recording necessary. 

The skills and qualifications needed by a studio engineer include: A degree in audio production, experience in several daw’s, strong problem solving and technical skills, strong communication and teamwork skills, and ability to work well in high pressure situations.  

Personality traits that would be beneficial for a studio engineer are being friendly, confident, and open to leadership.  

Studio engineers in the United Kingdom are expected to make around £40,000 a year at £19 per hour, but this can change depending on contract or session cost. 

 A progression route for a studio engineer could include a college or university course, an apprenticeship in the field, work experience, or specialist courses that are held by professionals. With work experience this could include situations such as volunteering at events or working as an assistant to a studio engineer. Both of these paths will give great experience for your CV, and therefore a higher-level job in your wanted profession as a studio engineer.  

 A professional working in studio engineering is Dr Susan Rogers who had recorded for Prince during famous works such as Purple Rain, Sign O’ The Times, and The Black Album. 

Marta Salagoni is another influential studio engineer. She has worked on many famous alternative-pop and experimental records such as; Bjork’s ‘Utopia’, Black Midi’s ‘Hellfire’, Bon Iver’s ‘i,I', English Teacher’s ‘This Could Be Texas’, and the Gorillaz’s new singles. Salagoni is recognisable for her distinct experimental and dark tone. 

A final professional studio engineer is Alan Parsons, who worked on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon and The Beatles’ Abbey Road. 

 

3: Artefacts for Inclusion 

For my first artefact I plan to use my Recording and Mixing project. The reason I have picked this track is because it shows my ability to work towards a deadline while also following guidelines that are put in place for me. My Recording and Mixing project shows my ability to record instruments and vocals, as well as communication with clients. This project shows my knowledge of microphones further by displaying my understanding of polar patterns, such as using cardioid for close miked drums. This project also shows my ability with microphone techniques such as mic placement and studio gear, as well as my mixing and editing skills.  This track displays my understanding of signal paths and post processing also. 

 For my second artefact I plan to use my own recording of ‘Au Pays du Cocaine’ by Geese. The reason I have picked this project is that it further shows my abilities with microphone techniques, like using different stereo imaging techniques for a different sound that is required on acoustic guitar or drums. This project also displays my ability to work with artists, making sure to stay professional and making sure to put no extra pressure on the performers that we are recording. Lastly, this project shows my understanding of level balancing and panning within Pro Tools. 

For my third artefact I plan to use my Audio for Multimedia project. The reason that I have chosen this track for my graded unit is that it displays my ability to create sound design that effectively reflects what is happening on the screen, synced to a video. It also shows my ability to use corrective and creative EQ to improve an arrangement. This project also shows my ability to use synthesisers to create sounds that I want and fit in as sound effects that I have for the project. Lastly, this project also displays my ability to deliver a good product within a deadline.